The 2018 Vuelta a España was a three-week Grand Tour cycling stage race that took place in Spain between 25 August and 16 September 2018. The race was the 73rd edition of the Vuelta a España and was the final Grand Tour of the 2018 cycling season. The race started in Málaga and finished in Madrid.

The race was won by British rider Simon Yates from the team .

Teams

The starting teams include:

Pre-race favourites Four former winners started the race; Nairo Quintana, Alejandro Valverde (both from ), Vincenzo Nibali () and Fabio Aru (). The other riders considered contenders for the general classification were Richie Porte (), Simon Yates (), Miguel Ángel López (), Michał Kwiatkowski (), Wilco Kelderman (), Steven Kruijswijk (), Thibaut Pinot () and Rigoberto Urán ().

Route +Stage characteristics and winners Stage Date Course Distance Type Winner 1 25 August Málaga Individual time trial 2 26 August Marbella to Caminito del Rey Hilly stage 3 27 August Mijas to Alhaurín de la Torre Hilly stage 4 28 August Vélez-Málaga to Alfacar Mountain stage 5 29 August Granada to Roquetas de Mar Intermediate stage 6 30 August Huércal-Overa to San Javier Flat stage 7 31 August Puerto Lumbreras to Pozo Alcón Hilly stage 8 1 September Linares to Almadén Hilly stage 9 2 September Talavera de la Reina to La Covatilla Mountain stage 3 September Salamanca Rest day 10 4 September Salamanca to Fermoselle Flat stage 11 5 September Mombuey to Ribeira Sacra/Luíntra Intermediate stage 12 6 September Mondoñedo to Punta de Estaca de Bares Hilly stage 13 7 September Candás to La Camperona Mountain stage 14 8 September Cistierna to Les Praeres de Nava Mountain stage 15 9 September Ribera de Arriba to Lakes of Covadonga Mountain stage 10 September Santander Rest day 16 11 September Santillana del Mar to Torrelavega Individual time trial 17 12 September Getxo to Oiz Intermediate stage 18 13 September Ejea de los Caballeros to Lleida Flat stage 19 14 September Lleida to Naturlandia (Andorra) Mountain stage 20 15 September Escaldes-Engordany (Andorra) to Coll de la Gallina (Andorra) Mountain stage 21 16 September Alcorcón to Madrid Flat stage Total

Race overview

Classification leadership

The Vuelta a España had four individual classifications, for which jerseys were awarded daily to the leading rider, as well as a team competition. The primary classification was the general classification, which was calculated by adding each rider's finishing times on each stage. Time bonuses were awarded at the end of every stage apart from the two individual time trials. The rider with the lowest cumulative time was the leader of the general classification, and wears the red jersey. The leader of the general classification at the end of the race was considered the overall winner of the Vuelta a España.

The second classification was the points classification. Riders received points for finishing among the highest placed in a stage finish, or in intermediate sprints during the stage. The points available for each stage finish were determined by the stage's type. The leader was identified by a green jersey.

+ Mountains classification points Category 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th Cima Alberto Fernández 20 15 10 6 4 2 Special-category 15 10 6 4 2 First-category 10 6 4 2 1 Second-category 5 3 1 Third-category 3 2 1 The next classification was the mountains classification. Points were awarded to the riders that reached the summit of the most difficult climbs first. The climbs were categorized, in order of increasing difficulty, third-, second-, and first- and special-category. The leader wore a white jersey with blue polka dots.

The final of the individual classifications was the combination classification. A rider's ranking in the combination classification was determined by tallying up his positions in the general, points, and mountains classifications. The leader wore a white jersey. If no rider was classified in all three classifications, riders classified in two would have been considered, and if that was tied the general classification will decide the winner.

There was also the team classification. After each stage, the times of the three highest finishers of each team are added together. The victory was awarded to the team with the lowest cumulative time at the end of the event.

In addition, there were two individual awards: the combativity award and the young rider award. The combativity award was given after each stage to the rider "who displayed the most generous effort and best sporting spirit." The daily winner wore a green number bib the following stage. At the end of the Vuelta, a jury decides the top three riders for the "Most Combative Rider of La Vuelta", with a public vote deciding the victor. The young rider award is calculated the same way as the general classification, but the classification was restricted to riders who were born on or after 1 January 1993. The leader wore a red number bib.

A total of €1,120,000 will be awarded in cash prizes in the race. The overall winner of the general classification will receive €150,335, with the second and third placed riders getting €57,000 and €30,000 respectively. All finishers in the top 20 were awarded with money. The holders of the four individual classifications benefited on each stage they led. The final winners of the points and combined were given €11,000, while the mountains classification got €23,100 and the most combative rider got €3,000. The team classification winners were given €12,500. €11,000 was given to the winners of each stage of the race, with smaller amounts given to places 2–20. There was also a special award with a prize of €1,000, the Cima Alberto Fernández, given to first rider to reach the summit of the highest mountain of the race.

+Classification leadership by stage Stage Winner General classification Points classification Mountains classification Combination classification Team classification Combativity award Young rider award 1 Rohan Dennis Rohan Dennis Rohan Dennis not awarded Rohan Dennis not awarded Benjamin Thomas 2 Alejandro Valverde Michał Kwiatkowski Michał Kwiatkowski Luis Ángel Maté Michał Kwiatkowski Luis Ángel Maté Laurens De Plus 3 Elia Viviani Jordi Simón 4 Ben King Luis Ángel Maté Enric Mas 5 Simon Clarke Rudy Molard Alejandro Valverde Bauke Mollema 6 Nacer Bouhanni Michał Kwiatkowski Jorge Cubero 7 Tony Gallopin Alejandro Valverde Alejandro Valverde Alex Aranburu 8 Alejandro Valverde Jorge Cubero 9 Ben King Simon Yates Lluís Mas Miguel Ángel López 10 Elia Viviani Peter Sagan Jesús Ezquerra 11Alessandro De Marchi Alejandro Valverde Bauke Mollema 12 Alexandre Geniez Jesús Herrada Thomas De Gendt 13 Óscar Rodríguez Gorka Izagirre 14 Simon Yates Simon Yates Michał Kwiatkowski 15 Thibaut Pinot Bauke Mollema 16 Rohan Dennis not awarded Enric Mas 17 Michael Woods Thomas De Gendt Omar Fraile 18 Jelle Wallays Jetse Bol 19 Thibaut Pinot Simon Yates Jonathan Castroviejo 20 Enric Mas Jesús Herrada 21 Elia Vivianinot awarded FinalSimon YatesAlejandro ValverdeThomas De GendtSimon YatesBauke MollemaEnric Mas

Final classification standings Legend Denotes the leader of the general classification Denotes the leader of the points classification Denotes the leader of the mountains classification Denotes the leader of the combination classification Denotes the winner of the combativity award Denotes the winner of the young rider award

General classification

+ Final general classification (1–10) Rank Rider Team Time 1 82h 05' 58" 2 + 1' 46" 3 + 2' 04" 4 + 2' 54" 5 + 4' 28" 6 + 5' 57" 7 EF Education First–Drapac + 6' 07"8 + 6' 51" 9 + 11' 09" 10 + 11' 11"

Points classification

+ Final points classification (1–10) Rank Rider Team Points 1 131 2 119 3 105 4 104 5 103 6 95 7 93 8 80 9 80 10 76

Mountains classification

+ Final mountains classification (1–10) Rank Rider Team Points 1 95 2 83 3 64 4 56 5 45 6 38 7 36 8 EF Education First–Drapac 31 9 EF Education First–Drapac 21 10 20

Combination classification

+ Final combination classification (1–10) Rank Rider Team Points 1 11 2 13 3 184 19 5 24 6 29 7 41 8 EF Education First–Drapac 45 9 47 10 47

Team classification

+ Final team classification (1–10) Rank Team Time 1 2 + 45' 36" 3 + 47' 57" 4 + 48' 10" 5 EF Education First–Drapac + 58' 49" 6 + 1h 27' 43" 7 + 1h 31' 01" 8 + 1h 37' 13" 9 + 1h 47' 43" 10 + 1h 47' 50"

Notes and references

Footnotes

References

Sources

External links